Communicable diseases:
• Diseases that can be spread between individuals
• Caused by pathogens- viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists. They can infect plants or animals and are spread through
contact
Virus- very small, move into cells and make copies of itself. Leads to cell bursting and releasing copies into the b
Damage and destruction of cells make individual feel ill
Fungi- single celled, can produce spores which can be spread to other organisms
Protist- some are parasitic so they use humans and animals as their hosts
Bacteria- small, multiply quickly by dividing, produce toxins that damage cells
How they are spread:
• Direct contact- touching contaminated surfaces, direct skin to skin, bodily fluids
• By water- drinking or coming into contact with dirty water
• By air- breathing, droplet infection, coughing
Limiting spread:
• Improve hygiene- hand washing, using disinfectant
• Reducing contact with infected individuals
• Removing vectors- mosquito nets, using pesticides
• Vaccination
• Diseases that can be spread between individuals
• Caused by pathogens- viruses, bacteria, fungi, protists. They can infect plants or animals and are spread through
contact
Virus- very small, move into cells and make copies of itself. Leads to cell bursting and releasing copies into the b
Damage and destruction of cells make individual feel ill
Fungi- single celled, can produce spores which can be spread to other organisms
Protist- some are parasitic so they use humans and animals as their hosts
Bacteria- small, multiply quickly by dividing, produce toxins that damage cells
How they are spread:
• Direct contact- touching contaminated surfaces, direct skin to skin, bodily fluids
• By water- drinking or coming into contact with dirty water
• By air- breathing, droplet infection, coughing
Limiting spread:
• Improve hygiene- hand washing, using disinfectant
• Reducing contact with infected individuals
• Removing vectors- mosquito nets, using pesticides
• Vaccination
